live water fishes caught

Pufferfishes, triggerfishes, and their relatives live all over the world.

Most pufferfishes, triggerfishes, and their relatives live in the sea, but at least twenty species live in freshwater. Some of these fishes are bottom dwellers in deep and others in shallow water. Some of these fishes live in open water, and others enter estuaries (EHS-chew-air-eez), or the areas where rivers meet the sea. Some live on coral or rocky reefs. Most freshwater species are bottom dwellers.

Pufferfishes, triggerfishes, and their relatives eat plankton, algae, and invertebrates (in-VER-teh-brehts), or animals without backbones. Plankton is microscopic plants and animals drifting in water. Algae (AL-jee) are plantlike growths that live in water and have no true roots, stems, or leaves.

Many pufferfishes, triggerfishes, and their relatives are eaten by the people who live near where the fish live. Some of these fishes are caught for sport. Some are caught and sold for food but must be prepared very carefully because they are poisonous. Many species are collected for aquariums.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists three species of pufferfishes, triggerfishes, and their relatives as Vulnerable, or facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Physical characteristics: Clown triggerfish have an oval body that is narrow from side to side. The pelvic fins are fused into a single spine. There are three spines in the front dorsal fin. The second spine is the trigger for locking the first spine into an upright position. Clown triggerfish grow to a length of about 20 inches (50 centimeters). The bright color pattern of clown triggerfish gives…

Physical characteristics: White-spotted puffers have a long thick body. Except for the snout and tail, the body is covered with small spines. The teeth are fused to one another. The dorsal and anal fins are short. The tail fin is rounded. Two fleshy tentacles emerge from each nostril. The color is greenish brown with small white spots on the back, sides, and tail fin. The belly has white bars. Whi…

Physical characteristics: Spotted tobies have a thick oval body, a long snout, prickles on the belly, and a rounded tail fin. They are orangish red with blue spots. The belly is white. There is a black spot ringed in pale blue directly below the base of the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is short and white with a black base. The anal fin also is short. The skin contains a poison. Spotted tobies grow t…

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